“Jackpot”
February 16th, 2021
In a sense, Hall of Fame general manager Bill Polian isn’t surprised the Bucs made a run to win the Super Bowl.
First, Polian is old buddies and a huge fan of Super Bowl-winning coach Bucco Bruce Arians.
Second, as Polian explained on “Late Hits,” the night-time show he co-hosts with Alex Marvez exclusively on SiriusXM NFL Radio, Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht built a solid team in his last three drafts. The only position Polian was concerned about is the most important position: quarterback.
Like many, Polian threw in the towel on Mr. Entertainment, America’s Quarterback, Pro Bowler Jameis Winston. Polian believes the Bucs could only go so far with Jameis playing Santa Claus too often.
When Brady was signed and Licht traded for foot-rubbing, car-littering Rob Gronkowski, Polian thought to himself: Look out NFL. But there was another element of team building Polian thought was a dynamite Licht move: drafting right tackle Tristan Wirfs.
“Of course they drafted the kid Wirfs who is starting at right tackle,” Polian said. “They hit the jackpot there.”
Polian loves Iowa offensive linemen and once told the story of how he personally would scout them, even though he was general manager, and how stopping at Iowa was his easiest trip. Polian would show up at practice in Iowa City, he said, confirm measurements of the linemen he was scouting and make sure they weren’t hobbled by an injury; then wave goodbye at Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz (who was Bill Beicheat’s offensive line coach in Cleveland).
Yes, Ferentz and Iowa have produced solid offensive linemen like Marshal Yanda and Bryan Bulaga. Wirfs may be the best.
And the way Joe looks at it, Wirfs is so damn dominant, there is no way Joe would move him — no matter how much some people hate Donovan Smith. Joe does not believe in fixing something that is not broken.
The Bucs’ offensive line now is the best Joe has ever seen.
February 16th, 2021 at 11:50 am
It’s so HOT down here
February 16th, 2021 at 11:51 am
I agree we can’t move him.
My only thought was to give him a look there in the event you wanted to let Smith walk.
Either way, if we drafted Smiths replacement and let him walk. I would be ok with that because of JL track record with OLine.
For the record I have always liked Smith. Its just an outside the box thought.
February 16th, 2021 at 11:59 am
Leave him at right tackle. Please!!
February 16th, 2021 at 12:00 pm
Jason Licht has done a great job, the past 3 years, but let’s be real. We needed a tackle going into the draft, and Wirfs, one of the highest rated tackles, fell to us.
Some feel we could have stayed put and still got him, but Licht chose to move up one spot in the draft, and grab him.
The pick of Wirfs was a No Brainer, but not a genius pick, like some of Jason Licht’s other picks.
February 16th, 2021 at 12:07 pm
Not sure how i feel about that. You are right…dont fix what is broken but the blindside is a big deal
Or we could just draft a left handed qb? 😂
But that is reason Left tackles do make more money. And right d ends get their numbers cause qbs dont see that they are about to get hit by a bus
Wirfs is a great kid so he is team guy. But if smith goes bye bye (at some point) and they want to move him , im sure wirfs would like more money
February 16th, 2021 at 12:12 pm
Freaking STUD. It was meant to be and Lynch did the Bucs a solid on draft day.
February 16th, 2021 at 12:34 pm
Keep the entire line intact and go for two, the rest of the line will hold each other accountable–Donovan Smith was performance driven in the superbowl
February 16th, 2021 at 12:53 pm
Maybe the Bucs can draft Wirfs friend and fellow Hawkeye Alaric Jackson in the 3rd day of the draft.
February 16th, 2021 at 12:58 pm
I know hes a big di**ead but many many Iowa Olinemen credit Coach Doyle’s strength and conditioning routine for their strength. Maybe the tradition will keep going but it would be wise to NOT let Iowa’s reputation of olinemen continue to be a strong variable when evaluating them for the time being.
February 16th, 2021 at 1:03 pm
It would be neat if Polian found a pair of his greatest draft picks, Bob Sanders and Dallas Clark by happenstance while he was in Iowa City measuring the Olinemen.
February 16th, 2021 at 1:30 pm
“Joe does not believe in fixing something that is not broken. The Bucs’ offensive line now is the best Joe has ever seen.”
Yes yes yes yes yes. And the same exact thing can be said of the Bucs’ defensive line Joe; it’s the best we’ve ever had. So don’t fix what’s not broken. Re-sign Shaq, Suh & Nunez-Roches. And behind them re-sign LVD & Minter.
If the salary CAP stays the same ($198 mil) as it was this past year, there’s no reason the Bucs couldn’t re-sign all of those above (well, unless someone gets greedy). Personally I’d allocate $115 mil to the offense, $85 mil to the defense & max of $8 mil to S/Ts (Succop won’t come cheap this year).
February 16th, 2021 at 2:41 pm
Deumig from hell – as classless as you can get, funny man.
February 16th, 2021 at 2:52 pm
Joe, Tristan Wirfs in 2021 will become the first ever Tampa Bay Buccaneers OL to be voted 1st Team AP All Pro😀❗️Bank on it ❗️GO BUCS ❗️
February 16th, 2021 at 3:36 pm
Nice bit of Research Joes! Not many people know the relationship between Ferentz and Belichick. The Iowa O-Line/blocking education is one reason the Iowa TEs are so good in the NFL as well.
February 16th, 2021 at 5:30 pm
Absolutely do NOT move him.
Marpet was on his way to being a pro bowler and they moved him for one year, in essence, they weakened two positions. It’s stupid.
The entire line and Stinnie are signed for the next few years, they’re all pretty young and playing awesome together.
There is no reason to move anyone just draft for the future in depth
February 16th, 2021 at 5:54 pm
So then Joe, how about a line or two on who’s available form Iowa in this year’s draft?
February 16th, 2021 at 5:55 pm
Oops, typo, s/b “who’s available from Iowa…”
February 16th, 2021 at 5:58 pm
The line is the best we’ve ever had
February 16th, 2021 at 7:30 pm
You can’t move him…. that’s why he is so good.
February 16th, 2021 at 10:49 pm
I think that it’s highly unlikely that Donovan will ever live up to his potential (6 years in the league has shown us what he is), but he is good enough and I wouldn’t move Wirfs either.
February 18th, 2021 at 2:57 pm
Wirffs is the best RT in the league in his first year!! And he’s still learning!! Imagine that…. Any one who is thinking of getting to the NFL as a guard or tackle needs to take wrestling like wirfs did!! …. It’s the reason he’s that dominate!! It builds core strength and teaches you leverage and really is compatible with that position!! Even MLB should do it and do at least a year or 2 is wrestling!! It will help them in all aspects of their game